Heating or air-conditioning system and method of operating same

Abstract

A heating or air-conditioning system is provided for ventilating a passenger cell. The system includes an air-conditioning box in which a heat exchanger is accommodated and at least one air-mixing chamber is formed. The air-mixing chamber has an inflow opening for hot air flowing through the heat exchanger and an inflow opening for cold air flowing around the heat exchanger. The air-mixing chamber also has at least two outflow openings for ventilating the passenger cell. The system also has an air-mixing device which controls the inflow openings. In order to ensure pleasant ventilation for the occupant in every operating mode of the system and with little structural outlay, one outflow opening has arranged on it a restricting element which is intended for restricting the opening cross section and is actuated by the air-mixing device in such a manner that the outflow opening is restricted to the maximum when the hot-air inflow opening is opened up to the maximum and is completely opened up when the cold-air inflow opening is opened up to the maximum.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. Heating or air-conditioning system for ventilating a passenger cell of a vehicle, having an air-conditioning box, in which a heat exchanger, through which air can flow, is accommodated and at least one air-mixing chamber is formed, the said air-mixing chamber having an inflow opening for hot air flowing through the heat exchanger and an inflow opening for cold air flowing around the heat exchanger, and also having at least two outflow openings, in particular for the connection of ventilation ducts leading into the passenger cell, with said system also having an air-mixing device controlling opening cross sections of the inflow openings, 
       wherein one outflow opening has arranged on it a restricting element which is intended for restricting the opening cross section and is actuated by the air-mixing device in such a manner that the opening cross section of the outflow opening is restricted to the maximum when the hot-air inflow opening is opened up to the maximum, and is completely opened up when the cold-air inflow opening is opened up to the maximum.  
     
     
       2. System according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein the air-mixing device has two closing members, one of which controls the opening cross section of the hot-air inflow opening and one the opening cross section of the cold-air inflow opening, and  
       wherein the restricting element is forcibly coupled to one of the closing members.  
     
     
       3. System according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein the restricting element is designed as a pivoting slide which can be pivoted about a rotational spindle which runs parallel to a perpendicular of the outflow opening, in a plane parallel to the outflow opening.  
     
     
       4. System according to  claim 2 , 
       wherein the restricting element is designed as a pivoting slide which can be pivoted about a rotational spindle which runs parallel to a perpendicular of the outflow opening, in a plane parallel to the outflow opening.  
     
     
       5. System according to  claim 3 , 
       wherein the closing member for the hot-air inflow opening is designed as a louvered closure having a plurality of pivoting slats arranged next to one another, and  
       wherein the pivoting slide is connected to at least one pivoting slat via a coupling rod.  
     
     
       6. System according to  claim 4 , 
       wherein the closing member for the hot-air inflow opening is designed as a louvered closure having a plurality of pivoting slats arranged next to one another, and  
       wherein the pivoting slide is connected to at least one pivoting slat via a coupling rod.  
     
     
       7. System according to  claim 5 , 
       wherein respective pivoting levers are fastened rigidly to the rotational spindle of the pivoting slide and to the pivoting spindle of the pivoting slat, and  
       wherein the coupling rod is coupled to the free ends of the pivoting levers.  
     
     
       8. System according to  claim 6 , 
       wherein respective pivoting levers are fastened rigidly to the rotational spindle of the pivoting slide and to the pivoting spindle of the pivoting slat, and  
       wherein the coupling rod is coupled to the free ends of the pivoting levers.  
     
     
       9. System according to  claim 3 , 
       wherein the closing member for the cold-air inflow opening is designed as a pivoting flap, and  
       wherein the pivoting slide is connected to the pivoting flap via a coupling rod.  
     
     
       10. System according to  claim 4 , 
       wherein the closing member for the cold-air inflow opening is designed as a pivoting flap, and  
       wherein the pivoting slide is connected to the pivoting flap via a coupling rod.  
     
     
       11. System according to  claim 9 , 
       wherein respective pivoting levers are fastened rigidly to the rotational spindle of the pivoting slide and to the rotational spindle of the pivoting flap and the coupling rod is coupled to the free ends of the pivoting levers.  
     
     
       12. System according to  claim 10 , 
       wherein respective pivoting levers are fastened rigidly to the rotational spindle of the pivoting slide and to the rotational spindle of the pivoting flap and the coupling rod is coupled to the free ends of the pivoting levers.  
     
     
       13. System according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein ventilation ducts which can be connected to the outflow openings open into a rear area of the passenger cell, and  
       wherein the outlet of the ventilation duct which is connected to that outflow opening which is provided with the restricting element is arranged in the central plane and the outlet of the other ventilation duct is arranged in the footwell of the rear area.  
     
     
       14. System according to  claim 2 , 
       wherein ventilation ducts which can be connected to the outflow openings open into a rear area of the passenger cell, and  
       wherein the outlet of the ventilation duct which is connected to that outflow opening which is provided with the restricting element is arranged in the central plane and the outlet of the other ventilation duct is arranged in the footwell of the rear area.  
     
     
       15. System according to  claim 3 , 
       wherein ventilation ducts which can be connected to the outflow openings open into a rear area of the passenger cell, and  
       wherein the outlet of the ventilation duct which is connected to that outflow opening which is provided with the restricting element is arranged in the central plane and the outlet of the other ventilation duct is arranged in the footwell of the rear area.  
     
     
       16. System according to  claim 5 , 
       wherein ventilation ducts which can be connected to the outflow openings open into a rear area of the passenger cell, and  
       wherein the outlet of the ventilation duct which is connected to that outflow opening which is provided with the restricting element is arranged in the central plane and the outlet of the other ventilation duct is arranged in the footwell of the rear area.  
     
     
       17. System according to  claim 7 , 
       wherein ventilation ducts which can be connected to the outflow openings open into a rear area of the passenger cell, and  
       wherein the outlet of the ventilation duct which is connected to that outflow opening which is provided with the restricting element is arranged in the central plane and the outlet of the other ventilation duct is arranged in the footwell of the rear area.  
     
     
       18. System according to  claim 9 , 
       wherein ventilation ducts which can be connected to the outflow openings open into a rear area of the passenger cell, and  
       wherein the outlet of the ventilation duct which is connected to that outflow opening which is provided with the restricting element is arranged in the central plane and the outlet of the other ventilation duct is arranged in the footwell of the rear area.  
     
     
       19. System according to  claim 11 , 
       wherein ventilation ducts which can be connected to the outflow openings open into a rear area of the passenger cell, and  
       wherein the outlet of the ventilation duct which is connected to that outflow opening which is provided with the restricting element is arranged in the central plane and the outlet of the other ventilation duct is arranged in the footwell of the rear area.  
     
     
       20. A vehicle air-conditioning system comprising: 
       a heat exchanger operable to heat air flowing therethrough,  
       an air mixing chamber disposed downstream of the heat exchanger,  
       a first air inflow opening communicating hot air from the heat exchanger to the mixing chamber,  
       a second air inflow opening communicating cool air to the mixing chamber which bypasses the heat exchanger,  
       a first outflow opening communicating air from the mixing chamber to a first passenger space region,  
       a second outflow opening communicating air from the mixing chamber to a second passenger space region,  
       an air mixing device controlling the first and second inflow openings,  
       a first outflow opening control member operable to control an opening cross section of the first outflow opening, and  
       a coupling member connecting the air mixing device and first outflow opening control member such that the opening cross section of the first outflow opening is maximally restricted when the first air inflow opening is maximally enlarged and is maximally enlarged when the first air inflow opening is maximally restricted.  
     
     
       21. A vehicle air-conditioning system according to  claim 20 , wherein said first passenger space region is a central passenger space region and said second passenger space region is a footwell region. 
     
     
       22. A vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein said coupling member is a lever connecting a control lever of a restricting flap at the first outflow opening and a second control lever of control flap means at one of said inflow openings. 
     
     
       23. A method of operating a vehicle air-conditioning system which includes: 
       a heat exchanger operable to heat air flowing therethrough,  
       an air mixing chamber disposed downstream of the heat exchanger,  
       a first air inflow opening communicating hot air from the heat exchanger to the mixing chamber,  
       a second air inflow opening communicating cool air to the mixing chamber which bypasses the heat exchanger,  
       a first outflow opening communicating air from the mixing chamber to a first passenger space region,  
       a second outflow opening communicating air from the mixing chamber to a second passenger space region,  
       an air mixing device controlling the first and second inflow openings, and  
       a first outflow opening control member operable to control an opening cross section of the first outflow opening,  
       said method comprising:  
       controlling the opening cross section of the first outflow opening by mechanically coupling the air mixing device and first outflow opening such that the opening cross section of the first outflow opening is maximally restricted when the first air inflow opening is maximally enlarged and is maximally enlarged when the first air inflow opening is maximally restricted.  
     
     
       24. A vehicle air-conditioning system according to  claim 23 , wherein said first passenger space region is a central passenger space region and said second passenger space region is a footwell region. 
     
     
       25. A vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein said controlling coupling is performed with a lever connecting a control lever of a restricting flap at the first outflow opening and a second control lever of control flap means at one of said inflow openings.